International innovation funding meets high-tech expertise

A total of six participants from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda were selected as winners of the first phase of the TECH4Transition program. Launched in Africa, the innovation program supports technology-oriented founders in further developing their products and strengthens the local innovation ecosystem in the long term.

In Germany, the teams undergo an intensive work phase:

• further development of their prototypes,
• preparation for investor pitches,
• exchange with experts from the German innovation environment.

The program is complemented by cultural activities on the weekends – a contribution to promoting intercultural understanding and strengthening international cooperation.

ITIV plays a central role during the stay. Doctoral students Felix Frombach (Prof. Jürgen Becker’s group), Janik Weis, and Markus Lehner (both Prof. Wilhelm Stork’s group) support the teams in the technical implementation of their ideas. They are available as sparring partners for complex development questions and also actively help shape parts of the supporting program.

A particular highlight was the lecture by Prof. Wilhelm Stork, who provided the participants with valuable scientific input for the further development of their product ideas.

During their stay, the start-up teams gained insights into various research and development areas at KIT as well as into local start-up ecosystems. The program included, among other things:

• Exchange with local KIT start-ups
• Insights into product development by Felix Pfaff from IPEK – Institute for Product Development at KIT
• Individual consulting sessions on business model development, market strategies, and prototyping

These encounters provided valuable guidance for the further scaling of the projects – both technologically and economically.

The soft landing at KIT is part of the larger TECH4Transition project, in which the KIT Start-up Incubator, ITIV, and Innovation and Relations Management (IRM) work closely together. This international cooperation is made possible by the partnership with GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation).

Together, the partners pursue a central goal: the sustainable strengthening of African innovation ecosystems through knowledge transfer, capacity building, and international networking.